Test rack



Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED. STATES CHARLES A. CAMPBELL, on wn'rnarown.' Am BRAKE coMrANY A eoaronnrion or New JERSEY nism which engages TEST 'Y Application rled l'ulyA "17,

This invention relates to test racks, and` particularly to test Lraclrs for .pneumatic devices, such as the triple valves used in air. Such test racks have a ported face against which the ported face of the brake systems.

triple valve is temporarilyy clamped, while* the valve is subjected tovarious determined pressures ,for the purposes of ascertaining whether the valve functions correctly ornot.

1 It has heretofore been proposed to exert.

the clamping pressure by means of afluid pressure motor, but such prior devices used a single motor, did not always give equalized clamping pressure, and obstructed the clampingface in that with modern valvesof large size which must be lifted by hoists, it is inconvenient, ifnot impossible, to mountthe valves onfthev test rack rapidly. 1

j According to the present invention a pluralityl of` pressure motors are used invwhich the motive pressures are 'equalized as between the. various motors. equalized clamping pressure. The mecha the flange of thefvalve is so designed as to leave the clampingface of the rack absolutely free. Moreover, means are provided-to engage the bolt holes'in the flangeand temporarily support the valve before and during the clamping lugs. i l

The preferred embodiment of the 1nven" engagementv of the tion `is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a 'plan view, half in section, and f showing a portion of atest rack with the present invention applied.-

Fig 2 is an elevation of the same on' L Slightly reduced scale.

' In the drawings 6 represents a Vportion of the head of the test rack whichhas a re# cessed ported face 7. rlhe recess in the' face 7 is to receive a'sealing gasket 8. The ports inthe head 6 are indicated generally by the '..numeral A9, and therefare, of course, like apertures in the gasket 8.

The body ofthe valve to be tested is in# f dicated in dotted lines-at 11, and has a bolting flange 12, of ordinary form,y provided with bolt holes by means of which the valve considerable S degree so This insures P v TENT OFFICE kiii-ivf#rom;"assrefnon 'ro THE VNEW Yom:

merely lhung on twor studsfl, which pass through two ofthe bolt `holes in the flange 12g' The studs are shouldered at 14 and to vthe rear of 14 are taperedyas shown at 15.-V Thetaper 15 terminates. short ofthe ported Aface. -7 asf yshown sothat the studs adjacent i face 7 flange 12 and thusaccurately position the flange 12 relatively to the ported face 7. The purpose of the shoulder 14 is to keep the flangef12 from slipping off the studs 13. In eifect'each studhas a .head which is small enough to pass through. the bolt hole in the flange 12fand yet whichwill engage that approximately fill the holes inthe I 1 flange and 'prevent-the valve from slipping od thesstuds so long as it bythe studs.

This arrangement-is very convenient when handling. a heavy valve by means of a hoist.-

V'The valve is 'slung'in' a chain loop and lifted until the bolt holes canbe slipped over the studs,afte r which the hoist is slacked away. The valveV cantsdownward slightly. by its ownv weight vand the shoulders 14 retain it loosely in position. While so supported the pneumatic clamping means are engaged and actuated. 3 f

The pneumaticclamping means comprise a plurality of cylinders 16, two'being illustrated because this number is ordinarily suffi-V cient, :but any desired number might be used. As the cylinders are the same a description of one'will suffice.

Eachfcylinder 16 has aremovable head 17 held by machine screws 18, and formed with a central proj ectionor boss'19 which serves as a seatfor the spring 2l. The spring 21 acts against the piston 22 which works in the cylinder. f The piston is made fluid tight which is heldin place by a'follower 24. The

in theA cylinder lby means of acup leather 23 f is y supported `solely i piston 22 and follower 24 yare mounted on the` piston rod 25 and are clamped betweena shoulder 26 on that rod and a nut 27 threaded on thev rod.

r[he Vrod 25 has .a reduced extension 28 which slidesin the guideway formed in the boss 19 and serves as a tail-rod. The rod 25' passes through a stuiing'box 29, of ordinary Y form, and carries at its end a laterally pro- Cil jecting lug 31 which is the lug that engages theliange 12 to clampthis in position.v

The handle 32 is provided and isthe means by which the rod 25 and piston 22 vmay beA tween the spaces within the cylindersV 116 Y 'on the pressure'side'offthe piston. 34'i's anv 'ordinary three-'way valve which alternately-` connects one of the last named cylinder spaces i `with thepressurev fluid supply .indicata-eda15- -35 and an atmospheric exhaust indicated at 36': Because ofthe equalizing connection it is necessary to have only a single supply and exhaust connection to operate all 'the cylinders in unison and at equalized pressures.

The partsy are shown in clamping positionl inFig. l. The valve whichisclam'ped'is indicated in dotted lines. The proceduce of mounting the valve for tests is as follows: After the va-lve'has been mounted on the lstuds 13, as valready v-described, the handles 32' are turned to 'bring the lugs 31lint0 engagel ment with the flange `112. At this time the Valve 311 iszset to exhaust the-cylinders to atmosphere. After the :lugs y31 have vbeen turned intov engagement with the flange 12, the valve 34 is shifted to adm-it pressure' fluid-so that'v therpiston rods 25 with theirlugs 31 are drawn inwardly, pressing the cylinder 12 ti'ghtly against the gasket 8. This clamping pressure -is maintained whilel the'valve isj'subjected to test. Upon the completion of the test valve 34 is shifted to exhaust the cylinders. The handles 32 'are turned to carry the lugs-31 clear of the flange I2 andthe valve lis'removed from the test rack." .Because of the equalized pressure in the .different cylinders the pressure on the flange 12 will be uniform regardlessk of any irregularity in the thickness of the flange. The clamping lugs S1-swing to the side and leave thesealing face of the test rack'entirely clear, a feature .which` facilitates the positioning of' heavy valves. -v

While the drawings illustrate an embodi-V4 ment of the invention vwhich in practice has demonstrated highly satisfactory characteristics,.the invention is capable of embodiment in slightly Vdifferent forms, vand the one shown is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting. Y l

that is claimed is,- Y 1. .The combination with atest rack having a` ported sealing face'again'st which a device to be tested isV temporarily' clamped, offa plurality ofV cylinders; pistons with rods: therein; lugs carried by the rods shiftable by angular displacement about the. axes of the rods alternately to engage and free thel device to be tested; and means vfor admitting and exhausting pressure fluid to or vfrom said cylinders. i

` ported face.

vsaid stud and draw 2. The combination with a test rack havinga ported face against which a device to `be tested is temporarily clamped, of apluwith the device to be tested by swiveling the pistons; and means for admitting and exhausti'n'gnpre'ssure fluidto or from said 'cyl'- finders e l3. The combination with a test rack havinga ported sealing face against which a ldevice to lie-'tested is temporarily clamped,

of a'plural'ity of similar pressure motors of the. iexpa'nsiblefchamber type mounted adjacent the periphery of saidsealingrface, .in substantially diametrically vopposed positions; means for causing said motors tonengage said fdev-ice; vand means for `ad'mi-ttin'g Yequalized'pressure to said` motors and for exhausting said motors. Y

4:. The 'combination'wi-th a test rack having ay ported sealing face againstwhicha device having an Vapertured .flange is, 'temporarily clamped; of ay stud on said face. positioned to register with Yan aperture in saidY flange and having` ahead which will pass through said aperture, and a reduced shank; ,and means' serving to engage saidflange and'l draw the device against said 5;l The combination ywith a. test rack haying a ported sealing face against which a device having anfapertured flange is temporarily'clfamped; of al lplurality of stu-ds on said face positioned to engage with apertures in said Vange, leach havinga head whichwill pass through the correspond-ingV aperture, and a reduced shank on which saidl head forms an abrupt shoulder; and means serving to Vengage said flange and draw the device against said ported face.

6. The combination-with a test rack having a ported sealing face against which a device having a flange with bolty holes is temporarily clamped; of at least one stud projecting 'from sai-d face,jsaid stud having a head and a portion adjacent the seal-ing facebot-h of which will pass through `one of said bolt holes, and anv intervening tapered portion which terminates in a shoulder at said head.; and power operated means adapted to engage said flange While supported by the flange against said sealingface;v Y

7. The combinationl with a test rack having a-V ported sealing face against which` a device having an apertured flangey is tem.- porarily clamped; of a stud on said face positioned to 'register with an aperture in; said flange and having a head which will ypassthrou'gh said aperture, and a reducedshiftable by angular displacement about the longitudinal axes of the rods to engage and free said ange; and means for admitting and exhausting pressure fluid to and from said cylinders. l

In testimony whereof 'I have signed my name to this specification. y

CHARLES A. CAMPBELL. 

